Written By: Jon Espinoza
Toys of the ’90s more often than not had a companion cartoon—or was it the other way around? Either way, it was pretty common to see a toy line and cartoon paired side by side to help flesh out a fictional universe. But did you know some of these combos also came with trading cards and even a video game? That’s exactly what the short‑lived toy line "Skeleton Warriors" had, and it’s definitely an underrated gem.
The toys were ahead of their time in terms of sculpting detail. The skeleton villains were packed with grit, shading, and texture, while the heroes were a bit more limited. The focus of the line was clearly on the intricately designed villains, and it shows. Both the cartoon and toy line were short-lived. Skeleton Warriors was cancelled after just one season, ending its run with only 13 episodes and leaving its story largely unresolved. They also spawned a run of trading cards, a board game, and a side‑scrolling video game released on the Sega CD and PlayStation.
The show focused on the battle between Prince Joshua and the undead forces of the evil Baron Dark. Produced by Graz Entertainment and clearly designed to complement Kenner’s action figure line, the show stood out for its moody visuals, surprisingly grim tone, and willingness to lean harder into death and decay than most kids’ cartoons of the era. Unfortunately, toy sales never took off the way Kenner hoped.
As for home media, Skeleton Warriors has never received an official DVD or Blu-ray release. A handful of episodes were released on VHS in the 1990s, but the full series has remained frustratingly unavailable in physical form ever since.
The toy line’s downfall can likely be attributed to a few factors: its heavy villain focus, the cartoon competing with juggernauts like "Power Rangers", and some parents being put off by the darker, grimmer themes. Yet, as the years have passed since 1994, these toys have developed a certain glimmer of light in the shadowy recesses of ’90s toy shelves. Today, you might spot a figure here and there—if you do, take a moment to marvel at the details of these bony warriors, and maybe even add one to your own private collection.
WATCH THE INTRO TO "SKELETON WARRIORS" BELOW
Now, grab your TV trays and Kid’s Cuisine dinners, and let’s head to the living room for another round of nostalgia. Come on—I’ll let you play with my Aracula figure if you beat me in a race to the TV.
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